Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting. Yes, one step at a time is awesome. And when you return, you might just want to start with getting back on your green smoothies. And then when you’re ready, just cut out either sugar or wheat. Just one. Both are in so many different food items that it’s a true commitment.

One choice at a time,
Joyfully,
Joy

Yes, you are meeting what most people have to come to peace with … what is generally considered “healthy” is not. And most people come into this an exploration of raw foods when they have a compromised health condition or LOL are booted out of their kitchen.

As far as a first book is concerned, look at the books in the right navigation bar and just see which one you are most drawn to. You can read reviews at Amazon.com.

If I were choosing one for you, I would probably choose either “Eating for Beauty” by David Wolfe or “Rawsome” by Brigitte Mars. The one by David is the only book I’ve ever read that I finished and then started reading again from the beginning. Brigitte’s book is the one I usually recommend to people who are just starting on a raw food eating style. She has wonderful recipes and does an excellent job of pulling everything together.

Thanks for reading my blog. There’s good information here, and so much more available. You’re right, it’s a lot to digest. Don’t overwhelm yourself … read a little each day.

Make it an enjoyable journey.

Joyfully,
Joy

Tiff

You ask about “sprouted grains,” but from your previous message, it appears that you really want to know about “sprouted grain bread.” If you are purchasing a packaged bread, the label will tell you more, but you will also need to look at what is NOT said. Typically the sprouted grains used are still more grain than sprout, and often cooked.

The most common sprout of wheat is wheat grass, though I doubt that’s what you’re referring to. Most people who have sensitivity to wheat or gluten don’t have sensitivity to wheat grass or wheat grass juice.

Because grains really have very few nutrients, they CAUSE hunger. So it appears you are feeding your hunger with the very item that will cause you to have that hunger. I call this “processed carbohydrate hunger” which can also be classified as addiction.

No one needs refined carbohydrates. We all need nutrients – nutrients the body can assimilate.

If you have or suspect you have a sensitivity to wheat and other grains, the best approach is to give them up, so you can know for yourself what your body feels like without them.

One of the reasons I’ve written this article you’ve commented on is to encourage people to do test it for themselves.

You might also find some help in the article “When You Eat, Do You Think ‘Food’ or ‘Nutrients’?”

Choosing is powerful. I hope this helps.

All the best,
Joy

Thanks for putting time in to help answer my questions. You can leave this part (the wheat part) out of your article if you want since we’re talking about this here but I am still concerned about the hunger question. That would be really helpful if you could do an article…if you want to include the wheat in there to, I certainly won’t stop you.

There’s just so much information to digest that it’s great to have someone knowledgeable out there to help out!
Thank you so much.

Tiff

First of all, congratulations on starting to eat more raw foods. There are many benefits to kitchen renovation!

I want to restate my own purpose for writing this blog. I want to help you and other readers to make your own choices, and to make them joyously. I don’t tell people what they “should” or “shouldn’t” do. And I’ve never said that wheat is bad. That’s not my style.

Grains have very little nutritional value, which is the reason I suggest that people avoid or minimize them. If people are having problems that are or might be caused by grains, the benefits of eliminating them from the diet will become self-evident.

Except for eating the sprouts of grains (which then are no longer grains), they are rarely palatable raw, so if someone wants to eat mainly raw foods, it’s not a wise choice.

Grains tend to make people hungry. That’s primarily because there is little nutrition in them. The more nutrition-dense the food, the less you need and the less hungry you will be. I name several other substances in this article that are also lacking in nutrition, and devitalize the body.

I suggest you re-read this article carefully. You don’t have to accept anything I say, but the one most important idea is this: test it for yourself. If you stop eating wheat and other grains for 21 days, you will know whether or not this type of food has a negative impact on you. It really doesn’t matter how it impacts anyone else or why.

Joyfully,
Joy

P.S. You asked me an “Ask Joy” question asking about these same concerns a few hours before you made this comment. I was planning to prepare a full article for you, but perhaps this will suffice.

Tiffany )

Thanks so much for your testimonial. So many people experience the same or similar results. It’s so true that the cravings disappear when these kinds of food leave your body.

All different kinds of “diet plans” abound. The key is to find a healthy eating program that works for you as a lifestyle. It sounds as if you have.

Joyfully,
Joy